King’s Speech LIVE: King Charles delivers first address under Labour government at State Opening of Parliament as Keir Starmer sets out vision for Britain

The King’s Speech ran to 1,421 words, making it the longest monarch’s speech at a State Opening of Parliament since 2003 when Queen Elizabeth II read out 1,448 words

It was also the most legislation-heavy speech for nearly two decades, with its 40 Bills being the highest number to be announced at a State Opening since 2005.

The text of this year’s speech took 12 minutes and 44 seconds for the King to read out loud, more than a minute longer than last year’s speech, which took him 11 minutes and 29 seconds to deliver.

• 40 bills
• 1,421 words
• 12 minutes and 44 seconds to read aloud

Labour will move to ban the ‘abuse’ of conversion therapy for gay and transgender people with a new law allowing people to freely ‘explore their sexual orientation and gender identity’.

The King’s Speech includes plans for a Draft Conversion Practices Bill, which would block action to ‘change, ”cure’ or suppress’ someone’s sexuality or gender ID.

However the Government appears to have slowed its charge towards change. Before the election, now minister Nick Thomas-Symonds suggested it could be brought in within 100 days of taking power.

Read David Wilcock’s report here:

MailOnline readers have had their say on the King’s Speech as the monarch set out Keir Starmer’s vision for Britain under a Labour government.

Here is what you’ve had to say:

Of course they want to ease planning restrictions because they have always intended to let millions more immigrants into this country and it’s cheap labour. I give it six months before many of their voters realise what a terrible mistake they’ve made and start turning against them. The only winners come the next election will be the Reform Party.

It will be interesting to see if we get a clear detailed plan of ‘how’ this will be accomplished, or more hot air waffle containing substanceless ‘we will……. intentions and promises. Remember ‘it’s all fully costed’.

Another Border Command? We already have one set up by the last government and they achieved absolutely nothing and this government will achieve exactly the same other than more illegals turning up.

All of Labour’s plans sounds like an awful lot of spending. Can someone explain where the money is coming from? The country is broke and all they want to do is spend spend spend.

Will they tell us when the power cuts will start due to their insane Net Zero policies?

Our Deputy Political Editor David Wilcock reports Labour today outlined its plan for a ‘smoke-free UK’ as it relit Rishi Sunak’s progressive tobacco ban.

The former Tory PM’s plan to prevent children born after January 1 2009 from ever purchasing cigarettes under an age limit which moved every year was killed off when he called the early election.

But Labour ran on a manifesto pledge to reintroduce it alongside tough news rules to prevent vapes and other nicotine products being marketed at children.

Read David’s report here:

We missed this earlier following the conclusion of the King’s Speech, but here’s the moment Charles and Camilla returned to Buckingham Palace in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach.

The Liberal Democrats vowed to ‘make the voice of carers heard’ as the party responded to the King’s Speech.

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said:

After years of crisis and chaos under the Conservative Party, it is clear our country faces enormous challenges. The Liberal Democrats will carefully scrutinise the Government’s plans, striving hard to stand up for our constituents.

We will continue campaigning to fix the NHS, boosting GP numbers, tackling delays to cancer treatment and improving access to dentists and pharmacists.

We will make sure the voice of carers is heard, from increasing the Carer’s Allowance to the big challenge of fixing social care – so that our loved ones can get the support they need.

We are now getting reaction to the King’s Speech from rival parties.

The SNP criticised the King’s Speech as a ‘missed opportunity’ that failed to deliver measures such as scrapping the two-child benefit cap.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said:

Keir Starmer has failed his first test in government. This timid legislative programme is a missed opportunity that failed to deliver the change that people in Scotland were promised.

People in Scotland voted for clear and substantial change at Westminster, and the Labour Government was handed a huge mandate to deliver it, so it’s bitterly disappointing that they have thrown that opportunity away.

While some of the small measures announced are welcome, they fail to deal with the major challenges facing the UK. There was no plan to eradicate child poverty, no plan to tackle the cost of living and no plan to end Tory austerity and boost NHS funding.

Labour will effectively renationalise the railways and hand local authorities stronger powers to set up and run bus routes as it seeks to reform public transport.

New legislation will be introduced to create a simplified rail system by bringing services into ‘public ownership’ once their contracts expire or if operators fail to deliver on their commitments.

Most existing railway contracts are set to expire by the end of 2025, and while some extend into the 2030s, senior Labour sources suggested the Government could take advantage of break clauses to bring services back into public ownership sooner.

It aims to have the change completed by 2029, with a ‘shadow GBR’ set up immediately even before contracts end, with a remit to also include ‘industrial relations.

Labour claims this approach will avoid the burden falling on taxpayers to cough up for compensation to operators.

Local authorities will receive more powers over bus routes and the ability to set up their own bus companies once again under the terms of a proposed Better Buses Bill.

Missed the King’s Speech earier? Fear not, we have put together a highlights package to get you up to speed.

Labour has committed to sweeping away zero hours contracts, giving workers’ more rights and handing back power to unions.

The New Deal for Workers was being championed by Angela Rayner, but has seemingly been given to Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds.

The King’s Speech includes a pledge to ban zero hours arrangements, but after protests from businesses and people who benefit from the terms it has been watered down.

Only ‘exploitative’ deals will be targeted.

The government is vowing to end so-called ‘Fire and Rehire’ and ‘Fire and Replace’ practices.

Parental leave, sick pay and unfair dismissal protection would also be made available from the first day in a job.

Flexible working is also being made the ‘default’, but there is an important caveat that this is only ‘as far as is reasonable’ rather than a right.

The Tory government’s reforms of union powers, including minimum service standards in areas like rail, will be abolished.

The monarch outlined a blizzard of around 40 bills in the new government’s maiden legislative programme, with the PM vowing to deliver ‘real change that transforms lives’.

The measures include a major overhaul of the planning system, renationalising the railways, a Net Zero push, a truancy crackdown and bringing Channel smuggling gangs under terror laws.

Amid the usual pomp and ceremony, the King said ministers will go ahead with controversial class-war plans to impose VAT on private school fees.

The ban on current 15-year-olds ever buying cigarettes is being revived, after the previous attempt was lost when Rishi Sunak called the election.

Sir Keir confirmed the Rwanda deportation scheme is being axed, despite hopes it was already having a deterrent effect, and there was no sign of Labour’s flagship pledge to bring in votes for 16-year-olds

• The King said the government will ‘reset the relationship with European partners and work to improve the United Kingdom’s trade and investment relationship with the EU’;
• The HS2 stage from Crewe to Manchester will not be revived;
• A ban on conversion therapy is only included in a draft Bill;
• Government will be legally obliged to have fiscal events signed off by the OBR in the wake of Liz Truss’s mini-Budget.

MPs have now returned to the Commons chamber with Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak deep in conversation.

They were later joined by their deputies – Labour’s Angela Rayner and Tory Sir Oliver Dowden – for the chat.

The Commons sitting will resume this afternoon for the remaining MPs to swear in and the first day of debate on the King’s Speech.

Keir Starmer took his first steps in forging ‘Red Britain’ today as he unveiled a King’s Speech for ‘working people’.

The monarch outlined a blizzard of around 40 bills in the new government’s maiden legislative programme, with the PM vowing to deliver ‘real change that transforms lives’.

The measures include a major overhaul of the planning system, renationalising the railways, a Net Zero push, a truancy crackdown and bringing Channel smuggling gangs under terror laws.

Amid the usual pomp and ceremony, the King said ministers will go ahead with controversial class-war plans to impose VAT on private school fees.

Read James Tapsfield’s report here:

We can bring you footage of Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak walking side by side to the House of Lords after MPs were summoned for the King’s Speech.

The two leaders appeared to engage in friendly conversation after their race for Downing Street.

The King has now finished delivering his speech and have re-entered the robing room as they prepare to leave the Palace of Westminster.

As soon as they leave Parliament will reopen.

The King confirmed plans set out by Labour to put VAT on private school fees.

That would “enable the funding of 6,500 new teachers”, the King told the House of Lords.

He set out plans to give renters greater protection, including ending no-fault evictions.

And he also confirmed plans to introduce a football regulator and gradually phase out smoking, which were originally introduced under the Conservatives.

The King said the Government would ‘ban exploitative practices’ as part of a new package of workers’ rights.

Local leaders will be given powers to take control of buses while train companies will be brought into public ownership.

The King also set out plans for a ‘clean energy transition’ including the establishment of Great British Energy.

He also announced measures to increase the powers of the water regulator.

The King said the Government will “seek to strengthen the border and make streets safer”.

A Bill will be introduced to modernise the asylum and immigration system, establishing a new Border Security Command and delivering enhanced counter terror powers to tackle organised immigration crime.

Measures would also give police greater powers to deal with antisocial behaviour.

This is the moment Black Rod, the King’s messenger, had the door slammed in her face before she summoned MPs to the House of Lords.

The doors to the Commons chamber are shut in the king’s face, in a practice dating back to the Civil War, to symbolise the Commons’ independence from the monarchy.

Black Rod will subsequently strike the door three times before it is opened.

The King told MPs and peers gathered in the House of Lords:

My Government’s legislative programme will be mission led and based upon the principles of security, fairness and opportunity for all.

Stability will be the cornerstone of my Government’s economic policy and every decision will be consistent with its fiscal rules.

In a measure being introduced to prevent a repeat of the Liz Truss mini-budget chaos, the Government will legislate to ensure all significant tax and spending changes are assessed by the Office for Budget Responsibility.

The “fundamental mission” of the Government will be to secure economic growth, the King said.

My Government will seek a new partnership with both business and working people and help the country move on from the recent cost-of-living challenges by prioritising wealth creation for all communities.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his predecessor Rishi Sunak were seen engaging in friendly conversation after MPs were fetched by Black Rod for the State Opening of Parliament.

The King said the Government’s programme will be ‘based upon the principles of security, fairness and opportunity for all’ as he set out the priorities for Sir Keir Starmer’s administration at the state opening of Parliament.

The King and Queen have now entered the House of Lords and are seated on their thrones.

The monarch has sent the signal for Black Rod to deliver his message.

This is the moment the King and Queen arrived at the Palace of Westminster for the State Opening of Parliament.

The Princess Royal, who is on a phased return to royal duties after suffering concussion when she was kicked or headbutted by a horse, was not in the carriage procession for this State Opening.

At the last one in November 2023, Anne, in her military uniform as Colonel of the Blues and Royals, acted as Gold Stick in Waiting, and travelled in the state landau in the procession to the Lords.

But this time the duty was performed by Lieutenant General Sir Edward Smyth-Osbourne, Colonel of the Life Guards

The King is wearing his Admiral of the Fleet Royal Naval Number 1 Dress with cap and sword.

In the Robing Robe at the House of Lords, Charles will put on the Imperial State Crown and his crimson Robe of State, which was made for his grandfather George VI’s coronation in 1937.

The Queen is wearing an off white silk crepe embroidered dress by Fiona Clare, George IV State Diadem, a diamond collet necklace, diamond Van Cleef and Arpels earrings and a diamond bracelet.

The Queen’s famous George IV State Diadem was worn countless times by the late Queen during her reign and was probably the most well recognised of all her pieces of jewellery. It is composed of four diamond pave-set crosses pattee alternating with four bouquets of rose, shamrock and thistle.

Set with 1,333 brilliant-cut diamonds, it was made for George IV’s extravagant coronation in 1821 and Elizabeth II usually wore it for her journey to and from the State Opening.

Camilla will be dressed in her crimson Robe of State, which was made for Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953, in the Robing Room.

We can now bring you footage of Sir Keir Starmer leaving Downing Street as he headed to the Palace of Westminster for the State Opening of Parliament.

The King and Queen have now arrived at the Palace of Westminster for the State Opening of Parliament.

We can now bring you more photographs of the King and Queen travelling to Westminster from Buckingham Palace.

The King and Queen have left Buckingham Palace in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, pulled by six grey horses.

They were accompanied by a Sovereign’s Escort of the Household Cavalry as they travelled in the carriage procession to the House of Lords.

Camilla is also celebrating her 77th birthday on Wednesday.

She is wearing an off white silk crepe embroidered dress by Fiona Clare, George IV State Diadem, a diamond collet necklace, diamond Van Cleef and Arpels earrings and a diamond bracelet.

The black and gilded Diamond Jubilee State Coach is the newest in the Royal Mews.

It has shock absorbers to stop it from swaying, and heating, internal lights and power windows.

It was used by the King and Queen on their journey to their coronation in 2023.

The Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Reverend Justin Welby has been pictured in the House of Lords for the State Opening of Parliament.

The chamber of peers is filling up and crowds are gathering in Westminster with the King’s arrival expected imminently.

Ten members of Youth Demand have been arrested in Westminster on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance after the protest group stated it planned to disrupt the State Opening of Parliament, the Metropolitan Police said.

Last week the group called for supporters to assemble at Victoria Embankment Gardens on Wednesday morning in protest over Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war.

According to the UK Parliament website, the main elements of the State Opening of Parliament take place between 11am and 12.30pm.

Here is the order of the day

• The King arrives at the Sovereign’s Entrance to Parliament after leaving Buckingham Palace.

• The King emerges from the Robing Room before processing through the Royal Gallery to the House of Lords chamber. The Great Sword of State and the Cap of Maintenance, symbols of sovereign power and authority, are carried in front of the Monarch.

• The King is seated on the throne in the House of Lords. When the monarch is seated, he instructs the Lord Great Chamberlain to signal to Black Rod to summon MPs from the House of Commons.
• MPs process to the Lords chamber, standing at the opposite end to the throne to listen to the speech.

• The King reads out the speech, written by the government, from the throne in the House of Lords. When the King leaves, a new parliamentary session starts and Parliament gets down to work.
• Members debate the content of the speech and agree an ‘Address in Reply to His Majesty’s Gracious Speech’.

MailOnline Political Editor James Tapsfield reports Sir Keir Starmer will take the first steps in forging ‘Red Britain’ today as he unveils the King’s Speech.

The monarch is set to outline the new government’s maiden legislative programme, with ministers vowing a ‘packed’ session.

A blizzard of more than 35 bills is expected in the speech around 11.30am, including a major overhaul of the planning system, renationalising the railways, a Net Zero push and bringing Channel smuggling gangs under terror laws.

Read James’s report here:

If you’re a fan of pomp and pageantry then this stream is for you, we are providing a stream of today’s ceremony which will include the King’s Speech at around 11.30am.

The House of Lords has been searched by the King’s Bodyguard the Yeomen of the Guard – the monarch’s own bodyguards and the oldest existing British military unit – in a traditional ceremony ahead of the State Opening of Parliament.

This tradition dates back to 1605, when it was first carried out after a failed attempt led by English Catholics, including Guy Fawkes, to assassinate the protestant monarch James I by blowing up the Houses of Parliament.

Royal supporters and anti-monarchists have gathered in Westminster ahead of the King’s arrival to open a new session of Parliament.

Crowds waving banners and placards in support and against the royal family have started to build with one opposing sign reading: Call this Democracy?

The State Opening of Parliament sees a number of bizarre traditions carried out as MPs officially return to work following the dissolution of parliament.

Here’s what to look out for today:

Searching the cellars in the Palace of Westminster

• On the day of Parliament’s official State Opening ceremony, the cellars of the Palace of Westminster are searched by the Yeomen of the Guard – the monarch’s own bodyguards and the oldest existing British military unit.
• This tradition dates back to 1605, when it was first carried out after a failed attempt led by English Catholics, including Guy Fawkes, to assassinate the protestant monarch James I by blowing up the Houses of Parliament.

Black Rod and summoning the House of Commons

• Black Rod is the name given to the House of Lords official, who is sent to summon the Commons for the ceremony.
• The role has been held by Sarah Clarke since February 2018, making her the first female Black Rod in the 650-year existence of the role.
• The doors to the Commons chamber will be shut in the king’s face, in a practice dating back to the Civil War, to symbolise the Commons’ independence from the monarchy.
• Black Rod will subsequently strike the door three times before it is opened.
• Members of the House of Commons will follow Black Rod and the Commons Speaker to the Lords chamber, standing at the opposite end to the throne, known as the Bar of the House, to listen to the speech, which is expected to begin after Charles is seated on the throne around 11:30am.

• Despite its name suggesting it is prepared by the government, the King’s speech is actually written by the government, with its length depending on the number of proposed laws and other announcements – such as foreign-policy objectives – but normally lasts for around 10 minutes.
• Beyond any words about his mother, the King’s speech will contain a summary of government policies and proposed legislation for the new parliamentary session.
• Topics included in the speech are expected to include illegal migration, housing, planning, workers’ rights and railway nationalisation.

She might have hoped her birthday tomorrow would involve nothing more taxing than putting her feet up with her husband, reports The Daily Mail’s Royal Editor Rebecca English.

Instead, Queen Camilla will celebrate turning 77 by popping on her Bruce Oldfield gown and the family’s iconic Diamond Diadem to accompany King Charles to the State Opening of Parliament.

Read Rebecca’s report here, available to Mail Plus subscribers:

MailOnline reporter Arthur Parashar reports security checks are taking place ahead of today’s State Opening of Parliament, where King Charles will reveal Sir Keir Starmer’s plans for Britain – in the first speech from the throne under a Labour government for 14 years.

Dozens of police officers have been pictured searching Whitehall ahead of the traditional day which is rich in English constitutional history.

In a day of pomp and pageantry, the King will travel from Buckingham Palace to Westminster in a royal procession before making a grand speech in the House of Lords.

Read Arthur’s report here:

Shadow House of Commons leader Chris Philp has said the Government’s plans to build on so-called ‘grey belt’ land is ‘shameless spin’ ahead of the King’s Speech.

The Conservative MP told Times Radio:

Obviously we accept and agree that more houses need to be built, but they need to be built in the right places.

For example, in my view, they should be built on brownfield sites in city centres, those kinds of places first looking at maybe new towns, but what we should not be doing is ripping up the green belt.

He said housing should be built on brownfield sites and by building high in town and city centres – for example in Canary Wharf or the Greenwich Peninsula in London.

They are talking about huge chunks of the green belt, not the odd car park. You can’t just suddenly claim that a whole load of green belt is now called the grey belt and it’s okay to build on it. I mean, that’s just obviously a piece of nonsensical and shameless spin.

Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, has admitted Labour’s planning reforms ‘may be controversial’ but are committed to ‘getting things built more quickly’

Ahead of the King’s Speech, Mr McFadden told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:

We were very clear during the election campaign that we would come out of this on the side of getting things built more quickly.

That may be controversial in some places, I’ve no doubt that it will be.

But it’s reasonable for people to expect that, if we said that during the campaign, it’s what they see when the King’s Speech is published later today.

The Labour MP for Wolverhampton South East added:

If we do nothing on this, we will continue with a situation where there’s a whole generation of young people for whom the aspiration of owning their own home, or sometimes even renting one at a reasonable price, will continue to be unrealisable.

Police officers have been patrolling Whitehall ahead of today’s State Opening of Parliament.

Here are some pictures of preparations in the capital this morning.

King Charles is expected to announce around 35 draft laws today as he delivers his first speech under a Labour government.

Here are some measures he will likely set out:

• Scrapping anti-strike laws and introducing a new package of ‘workers’ rights’
• Legislation to set up a state-owned energy company GB Energy which will drive investment in green power projects such as solar and wind farms
• A package of electoral reform, including booting out hereditary peers and starting the process for introducing votes at 16
• A Criminal Justice Bill, including tougher powers on shoplifting and an extension of the ban on zombie knives
• A Border Security Bill to allow the new Border Security Command to use counter-terrorism powers to help break the people-smuggling gangs
• A Renters Reform Bill to ban no-fault evictions and force landlords to deal with mouldy flats
• The revival of Rishi Sunak’s plan to prevent anyone born after 2009 from ever buying cigarettes

The Daily Mail’s Political Editor Jason Groves reports Sir Keir Starmer will launch a fresh assault on the planning system today – meaning communities can debate only ‘how, not if’ homes are built.

Sources said today’s King Speech will include a new Planning Bill which will curb residents’ ability to block controversial developments.

Areas of the Green Belt deemed ‘low quality’ will be re-designated as ‘Grey Belt’ and released for development.

Read Jason’s preview here of today’s King’s Speech:

Hello and welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage of the King’s Speech to mark the State Opening of Parliament this morning.

King Charles is expected to announce around 35 draft laws as he delivers his first address in Parliament under a Labour government.

New legislation on illegal migration, housing, planning, workers’ rights and railway nationalisation are expected to feature in his address.

The speech is expected to begin around 11:30am.